Astrology has become a cultural phenomenon—horoscopes and astrology memes are prevalent on social media, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a millennial who doesn’t know their astrological sign. Apps like Co-Star and The Pattern are thriving on the promise of A.I.-gathered birth-chart insights, and astrology columns are published in almost every major online brand targeting young people. Whether or not our zodiac signs have any actual impact on our day-to-day lives, the study of the movements of the planets and their pseudo scientific meanings brings people together on a mass scale.From June 21 to July 22, the world is in the season of Cancer, symbolically depicted as a crab. Cancers are generally understood to be sensitive, nurturing, and a little bit mysterious. In celebration of the cardinal water sign, this playlist is a collection of some of the most iconic pop, hip-hop, and R&B songs made by Cancer musicians.From Vince Staples to Ariana Grande, Solange, Lana Del Rey, and Post Malone, some of the 2010s’ most beloved artists were born under the Cancer sun. While we lean contemporary here (after all, astrology is ultra-trendy), the playlist wouldn’t be a proper dedication to the zodiac sign without including quintessential tracks from older-school Cancers Missy Elliott, M.I.A., and 50 Cent. These Cancer classics are a fun, mystical way to get into the season.Photo by Max Hirschberger
Astrology’s pretty ancient, but we’re here for it as a modern-day cultural phenomenon—horoscopes and astrology memes are delightfully prevalent on social media, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a millennial who doesn’t know the ins and outs of their sign. Whether or not the zodiac has any actual impact on our day-to-day lives, it’s definitely affecting our listening habits every month with this ongoing playlist series in which we corral our favorite hit makers born under the current sign.That’s it, Cancers; Leo season has arrived. As of July 23, the astrological sign said to be ruled by the energy of the sun casts a bright, vivacious, peak-summer spell over the earth for a month. A fire sign, Leo is symbolized by the lion and is a playful, daring, and commanding sign. According to astrological wisdom, people with this zodiac sign have no shortage of confidence, are beloved for their loyalty and reliability, and are brave beyond comparison.For the latest installment in our series of music horoscopes, we’re celebrating some of our favorite hits made by Leo artists in recent years. Whether it’s country queen Kacey Musgraves cleverly calling out bullies on “High Horse,” bubblegum rapper DRAM flexing with stacks of money on “Cash Machine,” or pop chanteuse Dua Lipa nonchalantly cutting off an ex-lover on “IDGAF,” this playlist is full of fun, bold Leo energy. Some classics like Jennifer Lopez’s “Jenny from the Block—Track Masters Remix,” Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” and Kelis’ “Bossy” also make appearances, for it wouldn’t be a Leo season playlist without honoring the original divas. This radiant, spirited playlist is the perfect complement to sunny days.
Astrology’s pretty ancient, but we’re here for it as a modern-day cultural phenomenon—horoscopes and astrology memes are delightfully prevalent on social media, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a millennial who doesn’t know the ins and outs of their sign. But, whether or not the zodiac has any actual impact on our day-to-day lives, it’s definitely affecting our listening habits every month with this ongoing playlist series in which we corral our favorite hitmakers born under the current sign.
The sun transits the zodiac sign of Scorpio just as the days get shorter and winter hints at its arrival for those of us in the northern hemisphere. From October 23 to November 22, this astrological sign, symbolized as a scorpion with a tail stinger, reigns. According to zodiac experts, those born under the sign of Scorpio are sensitive, passionate, highly perceptive, and at times vindictive (hence the stinger). Scorpio is a water sign, which in astrology indicates a strength in emotional intelligence; those under this sign are apparently able to “see” situations clearly and read people very well, and as with their fellow water signs, Cancer and Pisces, they are intuitive in nature.
This month in our series of music horoscopes, we’ve selected the best tracks by some of our favorite Scorpio artists. If the astrological traits of the sign are convincing, it should come as no surprise that some of the world’s most talented musicians are Scorpios. From Drake to Katy Perry, and Frank Ocean to Björk, our Scorpio-season playlist surveys beloved tracks such as “In My Feelings,” “Dark Horse,” “Nights,” and “Sue Me.”
Astrology’s pretty ancient, but we’re here for it as a modern-day cultural phenomenon—horoscopes and astrology memes are delightfully prevalent on social media, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a millennial who doesn’t know the ins and outs of their sign. Whether or not the zodiac has any actual impact on our day-to-day lives, it’s definitely affecting our listening habits every month with this ongoing playlist series in which we corral our favorite hitmakers born under the current sign.
As temperatures drop and leaves begin to fall to the ground (at least in some parts of the world), the sun moves from Virgo into Libra. Known for striving for balance and harmony, Libra is symbolized by a set of scales. According to astrologers, people born with this zodiac sign are thought to be social, intellectual, and fair. They have a strong urge to identify unfairness and make peace. Libras can come across as very civil, yet they have a tendency to be indecisive in trivial daily matters.
For the latest installment in our series of music horoscopes, we’re celebrating some of our favorite recent songs made by Libra artists. This month, you’ll find Flamenco pop singer Rosalía’s hit “Yo x Ti, Tu x Mi” (translation: “me for you, you for me”)—a very Libra theme. Also in the selection are Childish Gambino’s Grammy-winning, injustice-revealing “This Is America,” Cardi B’s warning to liars and cheaters, “Be Careful,” and John Mayer’s tenderly honest search for peace, “I Guess I Just Feel Like,” as well as classics from Ashanti, Eminem, Bruno Mars, and more.
Photo credit: Jora Frantzis
Astrology’s pretty ancient, but we’re here for it as a modern-day cultural phenomenon—horoscopes and astrology memes are delightfully prevalent on social media, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a millennial who doesn’t know the ins and outs of their sign. But, whether or not the zodiac has any actual impact on our day-to-day lives, it’s definitely affecting our listening habits every month with this ongoing playlist series in which we corral our favorite hitmakers born under the current sign.“
Allow me to reintroduce myself—my name is Hov, H-to-the-O-V,” opens rapper JAY Z on his iconic The Black Album standout “Public Service Announcement.” The line, now engraved in hip-hop’s lexicon, is one that speaks to the fiery essence of Sagittarius, the astrological sign that dominates the sky from November 22 to December 21. Like JAY Z, whose 50th birthday falls on December 4, people born under this sign are said to be bold, confident, and optimistic. According to astrologers, Sagittarians can be spontaneous and adventurous in nature—and potentially restless or irresponsible when out of balance.
From Britney Spears to Taylor Swift, DJ Khaled, Janelle Monáe, and Miley Cyrus, some of this generation’s most daring and bright musicians were born under the Sagittarius sun. To celebrate the zodiac fire sign, symbolized by the centaur as well as the archer, we put together an era-spanning collection of hits and classics for your Sagittarius music horoscope, including Christina Aguilera’s “Genie in a Bottle,” Sia’s “Chandelier,” Teyana Taylor’s “Rose in Harlem,” Billie Eilish’s “everything i wanted,” and more.
Astrology’s pretty ancient, but we’re here for it as a modern-day cultural phenomenon—horoscopes and astrology memes are delightfully prevalent on social media, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a millennial who doesn’t know the ins and outs of their sign. Whether or not the zodiac has any actual impact on our day-to-day lives, it’s definitely affecting our listening habits every month with this ongoing playlist series in which we corral our favorite hit makers born under the current sign.
With the end of summer comes the start of Virgo season on August 23. Symbolized by the modest maiden, the earth sign is ruled by Mercury, the Roman god of communication, eloquence, and boundaries. Virgos are the idealists of the zodiac, always well-organized and practical as they delve into the finer details of life.
In the selection of tracks for our music horoscope playlist, you’ll find “Clarity” by Kim Petras, “Drive Safe” by Rich Brian, and “Overdue” by Metro Boomin, on which some of our favorite newer artists embrace their tender hearts in true Virgo spirit. We also mix in some classics––Cassie fantasizes about the most efficient way to approach her crush on “Me & U,” Nas paints a world free of injustice, racism, and destruction on “If I Ruled the World,” and Amy Winehouse takes a methodical approach to keeping a relationship in the friend zone on “Just Friends.” Beyoncé, Jay Electronica, and Tayla Parx are also featured. Use this playlist as a soundtrack for the last days of summer as you channel Virgo energy and get back into a routine.
Photo courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment
The ’90s have never sounded better than they do right now—especially for modern-day indie rockers. There’s no shortage of bands banging around these days whose sound suggests formative phases spent soaking up vintage ’90s indie rock. Not that the neo-’90s sound is itself a new thing. As soon as the era was far enough away in the rearview mirror to allow for nostalgia to set in (i.e., the second half of the 2000s), there were already some young artists out there onboarding ’90s alt-rock influences. But more recently, there’s been a bumper crop of bands that betray a soft spot for a time when MTV still played music videos and streaming was just something that happened in a restroom. In this context, the literate, lo-fi approach of Pavement has emerged as a particularly strong strand of the ’90s indie tapestry, and it isn’t hard to hear echoes of their sound in the work of more recent arrivals like Kiwi jr. or Teenage Cool Kids. Cherry Glazerr frontwoman Clementine Creevy seems to have a feeling for the kind of big, dirty guitar riffs that made Pacific Northwestern bands the kings of the alt-rock heap once upon a time. The world-weary, wise-guy angularity of Car Seat Headrest can bring to mind the lurching, loose-limbed attack of Railroad Jerk. And laconic, storytelling types like Nap Eyes stand to prove that there’s still a bright future ahead for those who mourn the passing of Silver Jews main man David Berman. But perhaps the best thing about a face-off between the modern indie bands evoking ’90s forebears and the old-school artists themselves is the fact that in this kind of competition, everybody wins.
It may be that 2019 was the best year for ’90s metal since, well, 1999. Bands from the decade of Judgment Night re-emerged with new creative twists and tweaks: Tool stretched out into polyrhythmic madness, Korn bludgeoned with more extreme and raw despair, Slipknot added a new drummer (Max Weinberg’s kid!) who gave them a new groove, and Rammstein wrote an anti-fascism anthem that caused controversy in Germany (and hit No. 1 there too). Elsewhere, icons of the era returned in unique ways: Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor scored a superhero TV series, Primus’ Les Claypool teamed up with Sean Lennon for some quirky psych rock, and Faith No More’s Mike Patton made an avant-decadent LP with ’70s soundtrack king Jean-Claude Vannier. Finally, the soaring voice of Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington returned for a moment thanks to Lamb of God guitarist Mark Morton, who released a song they recorded together in 2017.
Taking a look at the playlists for my show on Boston’s WZBC might give the more seasoned college-radio listener a bit of déjà vu: They’re filled with bands like Versus, Team Dresch, and Sleater-Kinney, who were at the top of the CMJ charts back in the ’90s. But the records they released in 2019 turned out to be some of the year’s best rock. Versus, whose Ex Nihilo EP and Ex Voto full-length were part of a creative run for leader Richard Baluyut that also included a tour by his pre-Versus outfit Flower and his 2000s band +/-, put out a lot of beautifully thrashy rock; Team Dresch returned with all cylinders blazing and singers Jody Bleyle and Kaia Wilson wailing their hearts out on “Your Hands My Pockets”; and Sleater-Kinney confronted middle age head-on with their examination of finding one’s footing, The Center Won’t Hold.
Italian guitar heroes Uzeda—who have been putting out proggy, riff-heavy music for three-plus decades—released their first record in 13 years, the blistering Quocumque jerceris stabit; Imperial Teen, led by Faith No More multi-instrumentalist Roddy Bottum, kept the weird hooks coming with Now We Are Timeless; and high-concept Californians That Dog capped off a year of reissues with Old LP, their first album since 1997. Juliana Hatfield continued the creative tear she’s been on this decade with two albums: Weird, a collection of hooky, twisty songs that tackle alienation with searing wit, and Juliana Hatfield Sings the Police, her tribute record to the dubby New Wave chart heroes (in the spirit of the salute to Olivia Newton-John she released in 2018). And our playlist finishes with Mary Timony, formerly of the gnarled rockers Helium and currently part of the power trio Ex Hex, paying tribute to her former Autoclave bandmate Christina Billotte via an Ex Hex take on “What Kind of Monster Are You?,” one of the signature songs by Billotte’s ’90s triple threat Slant 6.
